American Perspectives

American Perspectives — Portland Museum of Art
 

American Perspectives

 
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February 3 through May 7, 2023

Exploring powerful visual narratives that reflect the unfolding story of America.

Jessie B. Telfair (1913–1986), Free­dom Quilt, 1983, cot­ton, with pen­cil, 74 x 68 inch­es. Col­lec­tion Amer­i­can Folk Art Muse­um, New York. Gift of Judith Alexan­der in lov­ing mem­o­ry of her sis­ter, Rebec­ca Alexan­der, 2004.9.1. Pho­to by Gavin Ashworth.

Fea­tur­ing over sev­en­ty sig­nif­i­cant works from the Amer­i­can Folk Art Museum’s col­lec­tion, this exhi­bi­tion offers insight into the diverse land­scape of folk and self-taught art in the Unit­ed States from the eigh­teenth cen­tu­ry to the present day. Cap­tur­ing thoughts and expe­ri­ences, this dynam­ic artis­tic pro­duc­tion func­tions as a wit­ness to his­to­ry, a car­ri­er of cul­tur­al her­itage, and a reflec­tion of the world at large.

Four pri­ma­ry sec­tions, orga­nized under the titles “Founders, Trav­el­ers, Philoso­phers, and Seek­ers,” explore the roles, ideas, and first­hand tes­ti­monies of artists of var­i­ous back­grounds and per­spec­tives. A wide range of forms—from quilts, embroi­dery, and assem­blages to pot­tery, paint­ings, and sculpture—reveals aspects of Amer­i­can iden­ti­ty, nation­hood, and his­to­ries, and cel­e­brates the mul­ti­plic­i­ty of insights art can offer on these ques­tions. Through the inter­weav­ing of his­tor­i­cal and con­tem­po­rary works that speak to the beau­ty, com­plex­i­ty, and con­tra­dic­tion of this coun­try, Amer­i­can Per­spec­tives affirms that every­one has a sto­ry to tell.

Clementine Hunter (1886/1887–1988), Playing Cards , 1970, oil on canvas board, 18 x 24 inches. Collection American Folk Art Museum, New York. Gift of Mildred Hart Bailey/Clementine Hunter Art Trust, 1996.1.2. Photo by Gavin Ashworth.
Clemen­tine Hunter (1886/1887–1988), Play­ing Cards , 1970, oil on can­vas board, 18 x 24 inch­es. Col­lec­tion Amer­i­can Folk Art Muse­um, New York. Gift of Mil­dred Hart Bailey/Clementine Hunter Art Trust, 1996.1.2. Pho­to by Gavin Ashworth. 
Clara J. Martin (1882–1968), Presidents Quilt , 1964, wool with paint on canvas appliqué and cotton embroidery, 88 x 72 inches. Collection American Folk Art Museum, New York. Gift of Marta Amundson; great-granddaughter of Clara J. Martin, 2015.2.1.
Clara J. Mar­tin (1882–1968), Pres­i­dents Quilt , 1964, wool with paint on can­vas appliqué and cot­ton embroi­dery, 88 x 72 inch­es. Col­lec­tion Amer­i­can Folk Art Muse­um, New York. Gift of Mar­ta Amund­son; great-grand­daugh­ter of Clara J. Mar­tin, 2015.2.1.
David Drake (c. 1800–c. 1870), Lewis J. Miles, Stony Bluff Plantation Pottery, Jug , 1853, alkaline-glazed stoneware, 14 1/2 x 12 x 11 1/2 inches. Collection American Folk Art Museum, New York. Gift of Sally and Paul Hawkins, 1999.18.1. Photo
David Drake (c. 1800–c. 1870), Lewis J. Miles, Stony Bluff Plan­ta­tion Pot­tery, Jug , 1853, alka­line-glazed stoneware, 14 1/2 x 12 x 11 1/2 inch­es. Col­lec­tion Amer­i­can Folk Art Muse­um, New York. Gift of Sal­ly and Paul Hawkins, 1999.18.1. Photo 
Attributed to Sturtevant J. Hamblin (1817–1884), Sea Captain , c. 1845, oil on canvas, 27 1/8 x 22 1/4 inches. Collection American Folk Art Museum, New York. Gift of Robert Bishop, 1992.10.2. Photo by John Parnell.
Attrib­uted to Sturte­vant J. Ham­blin (1817–1884), Sea Cap­tain , c. 1845, oil on can­vas, 27 1/8 x 22 1/4 inch­es. Col­lec­tion Amer­i­can Folk Art Muse­um, New York. Gift of Robert Bish­op, 1992.10.2. Pho­to by John Parnell. 
Artist unidentified, E. Fitts Jr. Store and Coffeehouse Trade Sign , 1832, paint on wood with wrought iron, 47 x 46 1 ½ x 1 ½ inches (with ironwork). Collection American Folk Art Museum, New York. Gift of Margery and Harry Kahn, 1981.12.9. Photo by
Artist uniden­ti­fied, E. Fitts Jr. Store and Cof­fee­house Trade Sign , 1832, paint on wood with wrought iron, 47 x 46 1 ½ x 1 ½ inch­es (with iron­work). Col­lec­tion Amer­i­can Folk Art Muse­um, New York. Gift of Margery and Har­ry Kahn, 1981.12.9. Pho­to by
Artist unidentified, E. Fitts Jr. Store and Coffeehouse Trade Sign , 1832, paint on wood with wrought iron, 47 x 46 1 ½ x 1 ½ inches (with ironwork). Collection American Folk Art Museum, New York. Gift of Margery and Harry Kahn, 1981.12.9. Photo by
Artist uniden­ti­fied, E. Fitts Jr. Store and Cof­fee­house Trade Sign , 1832, paint on wood with wrought iron, 47 x 46 1 ½ x 1 ½ inch­es (with iron­work). Col­lec­tion Amer­i­can Folk Art Muse­um, New York. Gift of Margery and Har­ry Kahn, 1981.12.9. Pho­to by
John Rasmussen (1828–1895), John Van Reed Evans Homestead and Farmscape , c. 1879–1886, oil on zinc-plated tin, 26 3/8 x 35 3/8 inches. Collection American Folk Art Museum, New York. Gift of Ralph Esmerian, 2005.8.15. Photo ©2000 John Bigelow Taylo
John Ras­mussen (1828–1895), John Van Reed Evans Home­stead and Farm­scape , c. 1879–1886, oil on zinc-plat­ed tin, 26 3/8 x 35 3/8 inch­es. Col­lec­tion Amer­i­can Folk Art Muse­um, New York. Gift of Ralph Esmer­ian, 2005.8.15. Pho­to ©2000 John Bigelow Taylo
Charles Carmel (1865–1931), Outer Row Jumper Horse , c. 1918, paint on wood with glass jewels and glass eyes, 51 x 63 x 14 inches. Collection American Folk Art Museum, New York. Gift from the collection of Larry and Gail Freels, 2020.1.4.
Charles Carmel (1865–1931), Out­er Row Jumper Horse , c. 1918, paint on wood with glass jew­els and glass eyes, 51 x 63 x 14 inch­es. Col­lec­tion Amer­i­can Folk Art Muse­um, New York. Gift from the col­lec­tion of Lar­ry and Gail Freels, 2020.1.4.
Ammi Phillips (1788–1865), Three Children of Henry Joslen Carter , 1860, oil on canvas, 28 ¾ x 37 ½ inches. Collection American Folk Art Museum, New York. Gift of Cynthia K. Easterling in honor of her grandmother Grace E. Carter, 2012.5.1. Pho
Ammi Phillips (1788–1865), Three Chil­dren of Hen­ry Joslen Carter , 1860, oil on can­vas, 28 ¾ x 37 ½ inch­es. Col­lec­tion Amer­i­can Folk Art Muse­um, New York. Gift of Cyn­thia K. East­er­ling in hon­or of her grand­moth­er Grace E. Carter, 2012.5.1. Pho
Deborah Goldsmith (1808–1836), Mr. and Mrs. Lyman Day and Daughter Cornelia , c. 1823–1824, watercolor and pencil on paper, 9 x 8 3/4 inches. Collection American Folk Art Museum, New York. Gift of Ralph Esmerian, 2013.1.9. Photo courtesy Sothe
Deb­o­rah Gold­smith (1808–1836), Mr. and Mrs. Lyman Day and Daugh­ter Cor­nelia , c. 1823–1824, water­col­or and pen­cil on paper, 9 x 8 3/4 inch­es. Col­lec­tion Amer­i­can Folk Art Muse­um, New York. Gift of Ralph Esmer­ian, 2013.1.9. Pho­to cour­tesy Sothe
Edward Hicks (1780–1849), The Peaceable Kingdom , 1829-1831, oil on canvas, in original painted wood frame, 20 1/2 x 24 inches. Collection American Folk Art Museum, New York. Gift of Carroll and Donna Janis, 2013.3.1. Photo by Gavin Ashworth.
Edward Hicks (1780–1849), The Peace­able King­dom , 1829–1831, oil on can­vas, in orig­i­nal paint­ed wood frame, 20 1/2 x 24 inch­es. Col­lec­tion Amer­i­can Folk Art Muse­um, New York. Gift of Car­roll and Don­na Janis, 2013.3.1. Pho­to by Gavin Ashworth. 
Daniel Steele (dates unknown), Tunebook , 1821, watercolor and ink on paper, 5 x 8 1/2 inches (closed). Collection American Folk Art Museum, New York. Museum purchase with partial funds provided by Becky and Bob Alexander, Lucy and Mike Danziger, J
Daniel Steele (dates unknown), Tune­book , 1821, water­col­or and ink on paper, 5 x 8 1/2 inch­es (closed). Col­lec­tion Amer­i­can Folk Art Muse­um, New York. Muse­um pur­chase with par­tial funds pro­vid­ed by Becky and Bob Alexan­der, Lucy and Mike Danziger, J

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This Exhi­bi­tion has been orga­nized by the Amer­i­can Folk Art Muse­um, New York, with sup­port pro­vid­ed by Art Bridges